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Voting in the United States
HistoryEligibility
Voting History
1787-1840s Requirements left up
to states to decide Most states only
allowed white, male, property owners, 21yrs
Ben Franklin—”In whom is the right of suffrage? In the man or the jackass?”
Voting History
By 1840s most states had gotten rid of property and taxpaying requirement
Voting History
15th Amendment (1870) A person could not be
denied the right to vote based on race or color
All males 21 yrs. Old
Did not become a reality for almost a century
Voting History
Southern states used Poll taxes Literacy tests Grandfather clause Physical intimidation Gerrymandering—the
practice of drawing electoral district lines to limit the voting strength of a particular group or party to deny the right to vote
Voting History Gerrymandering
spreads opposition in a particular way so a party usually wins
groups a particular party together in one district
Old Map New Map
Voting History
Woman’s Suffrage Movement (1848-1920) 19th Amendment
Cannot be denied the right to vote because of gender
Voting History
Civil Rights Movement (1960’s) Largely based on
suffrage Voting Rights Act 1965
—eliminated literacy tests
Voting History
24th Amendment Eliminated poll tax as
a condition for voting in any federal election
Voting History
26th Amendment (1971) Lowered voting age
from 21yrs to 18yrs
Voter Eligibility Today
Citizenship Residence
Allow new voters to be familiar with area Prevent political machines
Age—18 yrs old Registration
Intended to prevent fraudulent voting